Removable and Transportable Modular Microhousing and Method of Using the Same

ABSTRACT

The current invention is modular housing system which includes a docking or support structure and a plurality of removable, transferable, and customizable modular housing units. The docking/support structure provides all the basic utilities for each housing unit as well as a permanent, stationary location for accommodating each of a number of modular housing units in a dense urban environment without disrupting or altering the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Each housing unit is a self-contained living unit and includes all the basic necessities and features including a kitchen, living area, and bedroom. Each housing unit may further be vinyl wrapped so as to cosmetically match the housing units to the surrounding neighborhood or to provide any appearance desired by the owner/user.

BACKGROUND Field of the Technology

The invention relates to the field of modular housing, in particular removable and transportable modular housing which may be placed or docked in a stationary utility support structure.

Description of the Prior Art

According to U.S. Census figures, of the share of American adults who are single, divorced or never married, there were 128.2 million singles in the U.S. in 2015, or 51.2 percent of the population. These figures are similar to those in the study reported by Bloomberg, which was based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics which estimated that roughly 125 million Americans over the age of 16, or 50.2 percent, are currently single. That's up from 37.6 percent in 1976. Singles make up more than half the population in 27 of the 50 states with the share of single adults ranging from a low of 43.7% to a high of 55.7%.

The increased number singles in the nation has placed an incredible amount of stress on the currently available housing opportunities, especially for those in dense, popular urban areas such as San Francisco and New York City. According to Mayor de Blasio's Housing New York, Five Borough

Ten Year Plan, “The current supply of rental units is not well suited for the City's changing households. Our households also are changing in size, and there is a disconnect between the type and size of available apartments and the housing demands of modern households. There are 1.9 million one- and two-person households in the City (more than 60 percent of all the City's households), but only 1.25 million studios and one-bedroom apartments. Of course, some of the households will prefer to stay in, or move to, larger apartments. But the demand for smaller units also comes from individuals who would prefer to form their own household, but who are forced by high rents to live with roommates or family. When individuals can't afford studios and join up to rent multi-bedroom apartments, they also drive prices for those apartments out of the reach of families with children. To address these challenges, we need not only more housing, but also a mix of new housing types that reflects the diversity of New Yorkers' needs.”

In view of the increasing population of singles, there is a corresponding increase in demand for innovative small scale housing which promotes community, is functional, is convenient, and has state of the art technology all under one tiny roof. What is needed therefore is a housing solution that is geared to provide affordable housing to a shared demographic of both single and partnered individuals with an interest to refined living and a sensitivity towards community and environmental responsibility. While there are many benefits to redefining the need of personal space, the most notable is the benefit of ownership. Typical condominiums or single family homes are beyond the reach of most first time buyers, graduating students or adults living alone. Therefore any new housing solution should also offer a new innovative approach to home ownership for a growing demographic of consumers currently tethered to the concept of renting.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The current invention is designed and positioned to provide affordable housing on underused public and private sites in partnership with both state, public authorities, non-profit institutions and private owners who have land that could be deployed for affordable housing. The unique ‘nut-and-bolt’ assembly and delivery of ‘turn key’ modular real estate minimizes the impact of new construction to neighborhoods and is minimally disruptive to traffic and communities.

The current invention is a modular housing system which includes a docking structure and a plurality of removable housing units which are coupled to the docking structure. The docking structure itself includes a plurality of gates, a plurality of levels coupled to each of the plurality of gates, and at least one staircase disposed in at least one of the plurality of levels. Each of the plurality of housing units receives a plurality of utility lines from at least one connection point disposed within the docking structure.

In one particular embodiment, each of the plurality of gates specifically include a pair of vertical supports and a horizontal member disposed between the pair of vertical supports, each of the plurality of gates further accommodating at least one unit floor portion of at least one level between the pair of vertical supports.

In another embodiment, each of the plurality of levels includes at least one access platform and a plurality of decks, wherein the at least one access platform is adjacently disposed to the at least one staircase, and wherein the plurality of decks are in turn adjacently disposed to the at least one access platform and to the plurality of housing units.

In yet another embodiment, the at least one staircase is disposed at a rear portion of the docking structure. Conversely, in a separate embodiment, the at least one staircase may be disposed in a center portion of the docking structure.

In another embodiment, each of the plurality of housing units comprises a customizable vinyl wrap that is removably adhered to its outside surface.

Relatedly, each of the plurality of housing units may include a bathroom, a kitchen area, a convertible living-bed room area, and a storage area or any combination thereof.

In yet another embodiment, a foyer may be disposed between at least two of the plurality of housing units, the foyer serving to join two housing units together to form a single enclosed unit.

In a separate embodiment, the docking structure also includes at least one storage space disposed beneath the plurality of levels within the docking structure.

In another embodiment, the plurality of utility lines that are received from at least connection point disposed within the docking structure may include a water supply line, a gas line, a drain, and an electrical line or any combination thereof.

In a further embodiment, the docking structure also includes an electrical closet, the electrical closet being electrically connected to an outside power line and to the plurality of housing units.

In another embodiment, the plurality of housing units include a balcony that is disposed on a rear wall of each of the plurality of housing units.

The invention further includes a method for providing a modular housing system. The method includes constructing a docking structure, disposing a removable plurality of housing units into the docking structure, connecting a plurality of utility lines disposed within the docking structure to each of the plurality of housing units. The method further includes matching the aesthetic appearance of the docking structure and the plurality of housing units to a surrounding environment.

In one particular embodiment, removably disposing a plurality of housing units into the docking structure includes disposing each of the plurality of housing units into one of a plurality of corresponding housing unit spaces defined within the docking structure. In this embodiment, disposing each of the plurality of housing units into one of a plurality of corresponding housing unit spaces defined within the docking structure includes disposing one of the plurality of housing units into a carrier, elevating the carrier to a selected housing unit space defined within the docking structure, and aligning a pair of loading rails of the carrier with a corresponding pair of unit rails of the docking structure. Next, the housing unit is slid across the loading rails of the carrier and onto the unit rails of the docking structure and then locked to the docking structure. This embodiment further includes that when aligning the pair of loading rails of the carrier with a corresponding pair of unit rails of the docking structure, a pair of inner rails disposed within the loading rails are inserted into the unit rails of the docking structure.

In another embodiment, the method step of connecting a plurality of utilities from the docking structure to each of the plurality of housing units includes connecting a water supply line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units, connecting a gas line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units, connecting a drain disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units, and connecting an electrical line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units. The water supply line, gas line, drain, and electrical line are all preferably coupled to each housing unit through a common connection point.

In a separate embodiment, the method step of matching the aesthetic appearance of the docking structure and the plurality of housing units to a surrounding environment involves adhering a vinyl wrap to either the docking structure or the plurality of housing units which matches the aesthetic look of the surrounding environment.

In yet another embodiment, the method step of constructing a docking structure includes constructing a staircase between a plurality of levels disposed within the docking structure.

In a further embodiment, the method step of constructing a docking structure includes constructing at least one storage area beneath the lowest one of a plurality of levels disposed within the docking structure.

While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The disclosure can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a frontal perspective view of the modular housing system of the current invention.

FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the modular housing system seen in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a side partially cross sectional view of the modular housing system seen in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a side partially cross sectional view of the opposing side of the module housing system seen in FIG. 1C.

FIG. 2A is a representation of a neighborhood before the modular housing system of the current invention has been installed.

FIG. 2B is a representation of the same neighborhood seen in FIG. 2A in which the modular housing system of the current invention comprising a colored or patterned surface wrap which assists the modular housing system match or blend in with the surrounding neighborhood or environment.

FIG. 3A is a floor plan of one embodiment of the modular housing system comprising two separate housing units on one of the plurality of stories or levels within the modular housing system.

FIG. 3B is a floor plan of an alternative embodiment of the modular housing system comprising at least one double housing unit on one of the plurality of stores or levels within the modular housing system.

FIG. 3C is a floor plan of an alternative embodiment of the modular housing system comprising an alternative bedroom configuration from the floor plan seen in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3D is a floor plan of an alternative embodiment of the modular housing system comprising an alternative bathroom configuration from the floor plan seen in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3E is a floor plan of an alternative embodiment of the modular housing system comprising an alternative living room configuration from the floor plan seen in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 4 is a floor plan of an alternative embodiment of the modular housing system wherein a plurality of housing units and at least one double housing unit are disposed in an adjacent configuration on one of the plurality of stores or levels within the modular housing system.

FIG. 5A is a frontal plan view of an alternative embodiment of the modular housing system comprising a plurality of storage spaces disposed beneath the modular housing system.

FIG. 5B is a rear plan view of the alternative embodiment of the modular housing system seen in FIG. 5A comprising a plurality of storage spaces disposed beneath the modular housing system.

FIG. 5C is a side plan view of the alternative embodiment of the modular housing system seen in FIG. 5A comprising a plurality of storage spaces disposed beneath the modular housing system.

FIG. 5D is an opposing side plan view of the alternative embodiment of the modular housing system seen in FIG. 5C comprising a plurality of storage spaces disposed beneath the modular housing system.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a carrier used to load and unload a housing unit from the modular housing system.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the structural elements which form the embodiment of the modular housing system seen in FIGS. 1A-1D.

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the carrier seen in FIG. 6A after a housing unit has been disposed into the carrier.

FIG. 6D is a perspective view of the carrier and housing unit seen in FIG. 6C as it brought to a corresponding housing unit space defined within the modular housing system.

FIG. 6E is a perspective view of the carrier and housing unit seen in FIG. 6D after the carrier has been coupled to the modular housing system.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one particular embodiment of the modular housing system comprising three levels with four housing units disposed on each level.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the modular housing system comprising a plurality of storage spaces disposed beneath the modular housing system.

FIG. 9A is a partially cutaway frontal perspective view of the modular housing system seen in FIG. 1 showing the utility connections disposed in the vertical supports of the gates of the docking structure.

FIG. 9B is a partially cutaway side view of the modular housing system seen in FIG. 1A showing the utility connections disposed in the vertical supports of the gates of the docking structure.

FIG. 10 is a frontal partially transparent schematic representation of the modular housing system seen in FIG. 1A highlighting the power connections to each housing unit and to an electrical closet disposed on the docking structure.

FIG. 11 is a magnified view of the electrical closet seen in FIG. 10.

The disclosure and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the embodiments defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiments as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The current invention is modular housing system comprising a docking or support structure and a plurality of removable, transferable, and customizable modular housing units. The current invention provides its users with a relatively inexpensive housing option in a compact package that is easy to maintain and even transfer to another location if desired. The docking/support structure provides all the basic utilities as well as a permanent, stationary location for accommodating each of a number of modular housing units in a dense urban environment without disrupting or altering the character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The most basic embodiment of the modular housing system may be seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, wherein the modular housing system is denoted generally by reference numeral 10. FIGS. 1A and 1B show a rear and frontal view, respectively, of the modular housing system 10 which comprises a docking structure 12 and a plurality of modular housing units 14 which have been placed or inserted to the docking structure 12. The docking structure 12 in turn comprises a plurality of gates 16 that are substantially shaped in an inverted “U” configuration. The docking structure 12 also comprises a plurality of unit floors or platforms 18 that are coupled between the vertical supports which comprise each gate 16, specifically with a unit floor 18 being coupled within each gate 16 and between adjacently disposed gates 16 as is further detailed below.

As best seen in FIG. 1A, the docking structure 12 further comprises a pedestrian annex 20 at a rear portion of the modular housing system 10. The pedestrian annex 20 allows users to enter and exit the module housing system 10. In one particular embodiment, the pedestrian annex 20 comprises a plurality of access platforms or floors 22, namely a bottom or first floor 22A, a middle or second floor 22B, and a top or third floor 22C. In other embodiments, the modular housing system 10 may only comprise one or two stories or levels and therefore would comprise two corresponding access platforms 22A, 22B, or even one access platform 22A as is needed. Each unit floor 18 within the docking station 12 is further coupled or disposed along their distal most edges to the respective floors 22A-22C that is disposed or located at the same story or level as the unit floor 18. Disposed between the bottom floor 22A and the middle floor 22B, and/or between the middle floor 22B and the top floor 22C, is at least one flight of stairs 24 which allows users to travel between the stories or floors of the modular housing system 10 as needed. In an alternative embodiment, the modular housing system 10 further comprises an elevator or a lift allowing users to traverse between the different stories of the docking structure 12.

While FIGS. 1A-1D show up to twelve separate modular housing units 14 within the modular housing system 10, this is meant to be for illustrative purposes only. Fewer or additional modular housing units 14 may be inserted or disposed within the modular housing system 10 from what is explicitly shown and described without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention.

Greater detail of the docking structure 12 may be had by turning to FIGS. 1A and 1B. In this particular embodiment, the docking structure 12 comprises three stories or levels and at least four gates 16 which are each in turn comprised of a pair of vertical supports 30 coupled to a horizontal member 32. Each gate 16 comprises a plurality of unit floors 18 disposed beneath its horizontal member 32 and between its vertical supports 30. Each gate 16 specifically comprises a plurality of unit floors 18 that correspond to the number of stories or levels within the docking structure 12 generally. For example, for the docking structure 12 seen in FIG. 1B which comprises three stories or levels, each gate 16 comprises three unit floors 18 couple to it, with one unit floor 18 being coupled to the vertical supports 30 at the same height as the bottom or first floor 22A, and with a second unit floor 18 being coupled to the vertical supports 30 at the same height as the second floor 22B. Additionally, a third unit floor 18 is coupled to its vertical supports 30 at the same height of the top or third floor 22C. The gates 16 are further configured within the docking structure 12 to form a pair gate “tunnels” with a proximal edge of a unit floor 18 coupled to a first gate 16 that is disposed near a frontal portion of the docking structure 12, while the distal edge of the unit floor 18 is coupled to second gate 16 disposed near a rear portion of the docking structure 12. The combined configuration of the unit floors 18 and the gates 16 thus create an aperture or frame for accommodating or housing a modular housing unit 14 at each story or level 22A-22B within the docking structure 12. Therefore as seen in FIG. 1C, each pair of gates 16 may therefore accommodate a plurality of housing units 14, with one housing unit 14 disposed on the first level on the first floor 22A, another housing unit 14 disposed on the second floor 22B, and a third housing unit 14 disposed on the third floor 22C. An additional pair of housing units 14 may further be disposed or inserted between the gate “tunnels,” thus allowing the docking structure 12 as exemplified in FIGS. 1A and 1B to accommodate up to twelve separate housing units 14. Each of the gates 16 not only provide a form of structural support for each of the housing units 14, but also provide a conduit for services and utilities such as water and power to be easily and quickly connected and disconnected from each of the housing units 14 as is further detailed below.

In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the docking structure 12 comprises three levels or stories with four separate housing units 14 disposed on each level. Disposed in the center of the docking structure 12 is the stairwell 24 comprising multiple flights of stairs, thus allowing the residents to access each of the levels within the docking structure 12 as best seen in FIG. 1A. Each level of the docking structure 12 comprises its own corresponding deck 62 which wraps around each of the housing units 14 to provide sufficient access to each housing unit 14.

Each housing unit 14 is substantially rectangular in shape and comprises at least a frontal wall 34, a rear wall 36, two lateral walls 38, a roof 40, and a floor 42. As seen in FIG. 1B, the frontal wall 34 is the most proximal wall of the housing unit 14 with respect to a frontal portion of the modular housing system 10. The frontal wall 34 comprises a balcony 44 and sliding glass door 46 or other egress means allowing a user to traverse back and forth between the balcony 44 and the interior portion of the housing unit 14. The balcony 44 may further comprise a barrier, window, or other wall that is comprised of transparent or opaque material as is known in the art. The frontal wall 34 may also comprise an awning which extends perpendicularly with respect to the vertical surface of the frontal wall 34. The rear wall 36 is disposed at the back end or distal portion of the housing unit 14 and may comprise a window 50 or other architectural feature. Additionally, a plurality of solar energy panels that are constructed with environmentally responsible materials may be coupled to a surface of the housing unit 14 including the roof 40, lateral surfaces 38, or the rear wall 36 as needed in order to supply supplemental power to the housing unit 14.

Each housing unit 14 is preferably comprised of lightweight, durable construction material that is also environmentally friendly. The outside surfaces of the housing unit 14, particularly the frontal wall 34, the rear wall 36, and the two lateral walls 38, are specifically comprised of material suitable or amenable to being vinyl wrapped as is known in the art. Vinyl wrapping allows each user to personally customize their housing unit 14 and provides an infinite number of colors, patterns, or graphics which may be applied to each individual housing unit 14 or to an entire module housing system 10. For example, in one particular embodiment as seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, each housing unit 14 disposed in the modular housing system 10 may comprise a surface wrap 52 that effectively blends the entire modular housing system 10 into the surrounding aesthetic of the surrounding neighborhood. For example, FIG. 2A shows a neighborhood before the housing system 10 is installed or constructed. FIG. 2B shows the same neighborhood after the housing system 10 comprising the surface wraps 52 on each of the housing units 14 has been installed and how effectively the surface wraps 52 blend or camouflage the housing system 10 into the preexisting aesthetic of the surrounding neighborhood. If the housing unit 14 is moved to another docking structure 12 located in a different location or if the general look of the surrounding neighborhood changes, the original surface wrap 52 may be removed from the housing unit 14 and replaced by a new surface wrap 52 which is more appropriate for the surrounding environment.

The interior configuration of the housing units 14 may be seen in FIGS. 3A-3E and 4. Each housing unit 14 is meant to serve as a self-contained, fully featured, micro home that is highly mobile and capable of being removably coupled to the docking structure 12 on which it is disposed. The interior of each housing unit 14 is designed to maximize every square inch with uncompromising attention to detail and consideration to the comfort and lifestyle of each user or owner. Each housing unit 14 comprises a variety of standard features which include but are not necessarily limited to fully furnished interiors including linen and window treatments, home automation, and LED lighting. As seen in the example floor plan of FIG. 3A, each housing unit 14 principally comprises a bathroom 54, a kitchen area 56, and a living room/bed room area 58 in addition to the balcony/deck 44. Each of the main areas of the housing unit 14 comprises an almost infinite number of customizable features. For example, the living room/bed room area 58 may comprise a foldaway bed and sofa, a desk, a dining table, and a 65″ TV mounted on the inner surface of one of the lateral walls 38. In turn, the kitchen area 56 may comprise a cooktop, a refrigerator, a sink, and a microwave. The bathroom 54 comprises a sink, a wall hung toilet, and a unique shower with a washer/dryer enclosure. In addition to various physical configurations, in an alternative embodiment each housing unit 14 may also comprise a smart home technology system such as a smart thermostat or a smart security system which includes a variety of sensors, cameras, speakers, or other monitoring equipment which are known in the art incorporated directly into the structural construction of the housing unit 14. It should expressly understood however that any number of alternative embodiments which include different variations of furniture, appliances, and various other interior design features may present within the housing units 14 instead of or in addition to the specific features discussed above without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 3A also shows how a plurality of housing units 14 may be disposed in relation to each other within a floor 22A-22C. In particular, each housing unit 14 is separated from one another by a deck 62 which is a portion of the floor 22A-22C that is disposed between the plurality of vertical supports 30 and housing units 14. Users may gain access to the floor 22A-22C by exiting their housing unit 14 through a door 64 defined on one of the lateral walls 38 of the housing unit 14 and stepping onto a corresponding deck 62. From there, the user may traverse to another portion of the floor 22A-22C or exit the modular housing system 10 via the flight of stairs 24.

FIG. 3B shows an alternative configuration for the housing units 14 where two housing units 14 may be combined to form a double housing unit 65. The two housing units 14 which are used to form the double housing unit 65 are connected together through a foyer 66 which is a self-contained enclosure disposed on the deck 62 between the two housing units 14. With the door 64 on both housing units 14 open, the foyer 66 may be inserted or constructed there between, thus linking the two adjacently disposed housing units 14 into a single, larger double housing unit 65. The foyer 66 comprises a plurality of partitions or walls as well as a roof, thus forming a complete enclosure with the two housing units 14 it is coupled to. The foyer 66 further comprises a main door 68 which allows a user to traverse between the double housing unit 65 and the surrounding floor 22A-22C. It can be appreciated that the foyer 66 not only links the two adjacently disposed housing units 14 together, but because it is completely enclosed, the foyer 66 increases the overall square footage of the double housing unit 65.

FIGS. 3C-3E show alternative configurations for the double housing unit 65. FIG. 3C for example shows a double housing unit 65 which comprises a permanent bed and an extended living space. FIG. 3D shows a double housing unit 65 which comprises an expanded or larger bathroom area, including a larger shower or bathing area. FIG. 3E in turn shows a double housing unit 65 comprising a dining area in one half of the double housing unit 65.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the modular housing system 10′ comprising an extended or enlarged configuration, specifically with at least four housing units 14 disposed on any one of the stories or levels of the modular housing system 10′ and wherein two of the at least four housing units 14 are linked together through a foyer 66 to form a double housing unit 65. In this embodiment, any one of the floors 22A-22C comprises two flights of stairs 24 defined in the center of the floor 22A-22C with two housing units 14 disposed on either side of the floor 22A-22C in a mirror image configuration. The specific floorplan or footprint of the modular housing system 10′ seen in FIG. 4 is meant to be for illustrative purposes only. Specifically, each story or level of the modular housing system 10′ may comprise a fewer or additional double housing units 65 and/or fewer or additional housing units 14 from what is explicitly shown.

FIG. 5A-5D shows a related alternative embodiment of the modular housing system 10″, which instead of comprising three levels or stories, the docking structure 12″ comprises two elevated levels or stories with at least one storage space 100 defined underneath the lowest level of the docking structure 12″. The storage space 100 may be used to store or accommodate extra belongings of the residents living in the housing units 14, or alternatively, may conveniently accommodate a plurality of vehicles 98 as seen in FIGS. 5A-5D.

The main tenant of the modular housing system 10 is the easy and intuitive removal and/or insertion of each housing unit 14 from or into the docking structure 12. Each housing unit 14 may be inserted or installed into the docking structure 12 by disposing the housing unit 14 onto a corresponding unit floor 18. Specifically, a forklift, scissor lift, a crane, or other equivalent means lifts the housing unit 18 to the appropriate story or level and slides the housing unit 14 over the unit floor 18 and between the vertical supports 30 of the gates 16 with the rear wall 36 of the housing unit 14 facing the corresponding floor 22A-22C. The forklift then lowers the housing unit 14 onto the unit floor 18 and makes any adjustments necessary to ensure a proper alignment between the housing unit 14 and unit floor 18. The housing unit 14 is then locked into position by further mechanical coupling between the housing unit 14 and the unit floor 18 and/or between the housing unit 14 and the vertical supports 30.

A preferred embodiment for installing or inserting the housing units 14 into a docking structure 12, 12′, 12″ to form the modular housing system 10, 10′, 10″ may be seen in FIGS. 6A-6E. Here, a carrier 106 comprising a frame 110 which itself comprises a pair loading rails 108 is held by a plurality of wires or lines 112 to a construction crane, boom, or other equivalent means for assembling large structures. The carrier 106 is first lowered or placed on the ground or other surface adjacent to a housing unit 14. The housing unit 14 to be disposed within the modular housing system 10, 10′, 10″ is then moved into the carrier 106 by sliding or otherwise moving the housing unit 14 onto and across the loading rails 108 as seen in FIG. 6C.

Turning to FIG. 6B, the underlying structure or components comprising the docking structure 12 originally seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B may be seen. As can be seen from FIG. 6B, each docking structure 10 not only comprises a plurality of vertical supports 30 and horizontal members 32 as discussed above, but also a plurality of horizontally orientated support beams 102 and a plurality of unit rails 104. The vertical supports 30, horizontal members 32, support beams 102, and unit rails 104 all cooperate to form a plurality of housing unit apertures or spaces 116, with each one of the plurality of housing unit spaces 116 being sufficiently sized and shaped to accommodate a housing unit 14 to be disposed within the docking structure 12. Specifically, each level or story within the docking structure 10 comprises at least two support beams 102 disposed across the entire length of the docking structure 10. Additionally, each housing unit space 116 comprises at least two unit rails 104 which are disposed in a parallel orientation across the width of the docking structure so as to provide a sufficient egress point for each housing unit 14 to be inserted into.

After a housing unit 14 has been placed into a carrier 106 as seen in FIG. 6C, the crane which is carrying or supporting the carrier 106 lifts the housing unit 14 up to the corresponding housing unit space 116 within the docking structure 12 in which the housing unit 14 is to be placed. As seen in FIG. 6D, each loading rail 108 comprises an inner rail 118 which may be inserted into a corresponding unit rail 104 when the carrier 106 is brought into close proximity with the docking structure 12, thus forming a continuous rail between the docking structure 12 and carrier 106. The housing unit 14 may then be slid or moved off of the carrier 106 in the direction shown by arrow 120 in FIG. 6E and onto the unit rails 104 of the corresponding unit space 116. The housing unit 14 is slid further into the unit space 116 over the unit rails 104 until the final or position in which the housing unit 14 may be coupled to the docking structure 12 is obtained. At this point, the housing unit 14 is then coupled or affixed to the docking structure 12 as is known in the relevant construction arts. The carrier 106 may then be disengaged from the docking structure 12 by releasing or otherwise removing the inner rails 118 of the carrier 106 from the unit rails 104 of the docking structure 12. The use of the carrier 106 may be repeated may then be repeated for each unit space 116 within the docking structure 12 if needed until the entire docking structure 12 is completely filled with a plurality of housing units 14 as seen in FIG. 4.

The same process described above may also be used to load or unload a plurality of housing units 14 into or out of the alternative configurations of the modular housing systems, namely the alternative housing system 10′ seen in FIG. 7 comprising a docking structure 12′ with a central staircase 24, and the third alternative housing system 10″ seen in FIG. 8 comprising a docking structure 12″ with a plurality of storage areas or parking spaces 100 disposed underneath. It is to be expressly understood however that additional or altered configurations or embodiments for the docking structures 12, 12′, 12″ other than what is explicitly shown in the figures may be used without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the docking structure 12, 12′, 12″ may comprise fewer or additional levels or stories than what is shown or, alternatively, may comprise additional or fewer staircases disposed at different locations within the docking structure 12, 12′, 12″ itself to name only a few possible alternative embodiments.

In addition to providing an anchor point for each housing unit 14, the docking structure 12, 12′, 12″ also provides a means by which to supply each housing unit 14 with a plurality of utility services through a common or universal access point. Specifically, after the housing unit 14 is placed on a corresponding unit floor 18 as discussed above, the housing unit 14 is coupled to at least one connection point containing at least one utility service that is disposed or delivered through at least one of the vertical supports 30 of one of the gates 16. FIGS. 9A and 9B show a partially cut away perspective and a side view the modular housing system 10 and the various utility connections disposed within the vertical supports 30 of the gates 16. While FIGS. 9A and 9B show the utility services passing through a vertical support 30 of a gate 16 disposed near the rear of the modular housing system 10 and thus supplying utilities to the three left most vertically disposed housing units 14, it is to be expressly understood that utility services may be delivered to the housing units 14 through any of the vertical supports 30 of any of the gates 16, thus allowing a housing unit 14 which is properly installed anywhere within the docking structure 12 to be coupled a utility connection point. In one embodiment, at least one vertical support 30 of at least one the gate 16 of the docking structure 12 comprises a plurality of utility services including an incoming water or water supply line 72, an outgoing water line or drain 74, and a power or electrical line 80. However additional or alternative utility services other than what is described herein such as cable television or internet connections and/or a gas line may also be disposed in or provided by the docking structure 12 to each of the housing units 14. As best seen in FIG. 9B, the water supply line 72 and drain 74 are vertically disposed throughout the height of the vertical support 30, thus providing water to every housing unit 14 regardless of what story or level within the modular housing system 10 the housing unit 14 is disposed on. The water supply line 72 is coupled to each housing unit 14 through a plurality of supply sub connections which are uniformly distributed in each housing unit 14, the supply sub connections leading to each appliance or application within the housing unit 14 which requires a water connection to function such as but not limited to a bathroom sink, a kitchen sink, a toilet, a shower unit, and/or a washer/dryer system. In turn, the drain 74 is connected to each housing unit 14 through a plurality of pipes or sub drains that are each connected to the drain or exit aperture for any number of appliances such as a toilet, shower unit, or a sink.

An electrical line 80 may be disposed in the same vertical support 30 as the gas line 72 and the water main 74, or as seen in FIG. 9A, may enter each housing unit 14 from an alternative location. The electrical line 80 is coupled to a uniform or standard fuse box 70 that is hardwired into each housing unit 14. As is known in the art, the fuse box 70 serves as an access point for the entire electrical system of each housing unit 14. In a related embodiment seen in FIG. 10, each electrical line 80 leading to each housing unit 14 is coupled to the vertical supports 30 and floors 22A-22C of the docking structure 12 and generally lead to an electrical closet 84 that is coupled to the docking structure 12 at the first level or story. The electrical closet 84 in turn is coupled to an outside power line or power conduit 86 which is connected to the local power grid. The electrical closet 84 further comprises a user interface module 88 seen in FIG. 11 which in turn comprises a display screen 92 and a plurality of module meters 90. In one embodiment, the user interface module 88 preferably comprises as many module meters 90 as there are spaces available for housing units 14 to be placed within the modular housing system 10. Each module meter 90 measures the power usage of the housing unit 14 that is assigned to, thus allowing a utility worker or service provider to bill or address service concerns for each owner of the housing units 14 separately. Such a configuration therefore avoids the need and inconvenience common in most apartment complexes where each owner or user typically pays for a portion the total power cost used by the entire apartment complex. By measuring each housing unit 14 separately, this instead allows each owner/user to only pay for the power that they actually used, not for the total power consumed by the modular housing system 10.

To remove a housing unit 14, a user disconnects the utilities from the housing unit 14 by decoupling the electrical line 80, the water supply line 72, and the drain 74 either separately or through the universal access point. Next, the user structurally disconnects or decouples the housing unit 14 from the unit floor 18, the vertical supports 30 of the gates 16, or any other structural portion of the docking structure 12. The housing unit 14 is then lifted up off of the unit floor 18 on which it was disposed by means of a forklift, crane, or other equivalent means now known or later devised. The housing unit 14 then is removed from the docking structure 12 by moving the housing unit 14 away relative to the docking structure 12. Because the housing unit 14 is comprised of relatively light weight construction material, it may then be easily transported by truck, train, or any other equivalent means to a new location which comprises a different docking structure 12. Once at its final destination, the user may then reinsert the housing unit 14 into any available or vacant position within the new docking structure 12 and then reattaching or recoupling the structural elements and the universal utility access point as discussed above. The user may repeatedly remove and transport their housing unit 14 between different docking structures 12 located in different neighborhoods, cities, or even states whenever desired.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following embodiments and its various embodiments.

Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the embodiments includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the embodiments is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the embodiments.

The words used in this specification to describe the various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiments. 

We claim:
 1. A modular housing system comprising: a docking structure; and a plurality of housing units removably coupled to the docking structure, wherein the docking structure comprises: a plurality of gates; a plurality of levels coupled to the plurality of gates; and at least one staircase disposed in at least one of the plurality of levels, and wherein each of the plurality of housing units receives a plurality of utility lines from at least one connection point disposed within the docking structure.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of gates comprises a pair of vertical supports and a horizontal member disposed between the pair of vertical supports, each of the plurality of gates further accommodating at least one unit floor portion of at least one level between the pair of vertical supports.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of levels comprises at least one floor and a plurality of decks, wherein the at least one access platform is adjacently disposed to the at least one staircase, and wherein the plurality of decks are adjacently disposed to the at least one access platform and to the plurality of housing units.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of gates is configured to accommodate at least two of the plurality of housing units at each of the plurality of levels.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one staircase is disposed in a center portion of the docking structure.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of housing units comprises a customizable vinyl wrap removably adhered to its outside surface.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of housing units comprises: a bathroom; a kitchen area; and a convertible living-bed room area.
 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a foyer disposed between at least two of the plurality of housing units, the foyer coupling the two housing units together to form a single enclosed unit.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the docking structure further comprises at least one storage space disposed beneath the plurality of levels within the docking structure.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of utilities received from at least connection point disposed within the docking structure comprises: a water supply line; a gas line; a drain; and an electrical line.
 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the docking structure further comprises an electrical closet, the electrical closet being electrically connected to an outside power line and to the plurality of housing units.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of housing units comprise a balcony disposed on a rear wall of the plurality of housing units.
 13. A method for providing a modular housing system comprising: constructing a docking structure; removably disposing a plurality of housing units into the docking structure; connecting a plurality of utility lines disposed within the docking structure to each of the plurality of housing units; and matching the aesthetic appearance of the docking structure and the plurality of housing units to a surrounding environment.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein removably disposing a plurality of housing units into the docking structure comprises disposing each of the plurality of housing units into one of a plurality of corresponding housing unit spaces defined within the docking structure.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing each of the plurality of housing units into one of a plurality of corresponding housing unit spaces defined within the docking structure comprises: disposing one of the plurality of housing units into a carrier; elevating the carrier to a selected housing unit space defined within the docking structure; aligning a pair of loading rails of the carrier with a corresponding pair of unit rails of the docking structure; sliding the housing unit across the loading rails of the carrier and onto the unit rails of the docking structure; and locking the housing unit to the docking structure.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein aligning a pair of loading rails of the carrier with a corresponding pair of unit rails of the docking structure comprises inserting a pair of inner rails disposed within the loading rails into the unit rails of the docking structure.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein connecting a plurality of utilities from the docking structure to each of the plurality of housing units comprises: connecting a water supply line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units; connecting a gas line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units; connecting a drain disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units; and connecting an electrical line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units, wherein the water supply line, gas line, drain, and electrical line are all coupled to each housing unit through a common connection point.
 18. The method of claim 13 wherein matching the aesthetic appearance of the docking structure and the plurality of housing units to a surrounding environment comprises adhering a vinyl wrap to either the docking structure or the plurality of housing units which matches the aesthetic look of the surrounding environment.
 19. The method of claim 13 wherein constructing a docking structure comprises constructing a staircase between a plurality of levels disposed within the docking structure.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein constructing a docking structure comprises constructing at least one storage area beneath the lowest one of a plurality of levels disposed within the docking structure. 